A shoe, an outer layer part for a shoe and a shoe assembly

ABSTRACT

Shoe used for skateboarding are often worn and torn in specific areas needed to grip and control the skateboard. This wear and tear affects the visual appearance of the shoe as well as its function for skateboarding. According to the invention, a renewal part of the upper part of the shoe can be removed and replaced. An inner layer of the renewal part is arranged to hold a removable outer layer of the renewal part in place.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a shoe, in particular a shoe adaptedfor use by skateboard riders.

BACKGROUND AND RELATED ART

Basic street skateboarding causes a lot of wear and tear on the shoes.Every trick starts with an Ollie maneuver and in order to execute anOllie the rider pivots his foot so the side and top on the footinteracts with the sandpaper griptape skateboard surface. Streetskateboarders basically “juggle” the skateboard with their feet. Usingthe side and the top of the shoe to control the board. This interactioncreates wear and tear which impairs both the appearance of the shoe andits performance properties.

Skateboarders use silicon nitride sandpaper, the most abrasive availableto create friction between the foot and the deck which is used to spinand control the deck.

This destroys shoes, an active skater can wear out a pair of shoes injust a few weeks. Usually, ordinary sports shoes are used for skating.Some skateboard shoes have featured a rubber/leatherreinforcement/protection located at the typical wear areas. These werepermanently glued on to protect the parts that are most easily worn.However, this reinforcements also wear rather quickly and often were notmade from materials that provided optimum interaction with the sandpapergriptape.

It is an object of the invention to provide shoes that are suitable forskateboarding and have a longer lifespan than prior art skateboardingshoes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention therefore relates to a shoe having a sole part and anupper part, at least a first portion of the upper part having a mainouter surface, said shoe being characterized in that at least a portionof the upper part outside of the main outer surface comprises a renewalportion comprising an inner layer having an indented outer surfacecompared to the main outer surface, said indented outer surface beingarranged to cooperate with a detachable outer layer having a shapematching the renewal portion, in such a way as to retain the outer layerattached to the renewal portion.

The invention therefore also relates to a shoe assembly having a solepart and an upper part, at least a replacement portion of the upper parthaving an inner layer and an outer layer, said outer layer attached tothe shoe being releasable, wherein said outer layer has an outer surfaceand an inner surface, the outer surface of the outer layer having ashape defining the outer shape of the replacement portion of the shoeand the inner surface of the outer layer being shaped to match the innerlayer, said outer layer element further comprises mechanical fasteningmeans on its inner surface arranged to cooperate with the outer surfaceof the inner layer, for attaching the upper layer element to the shoe.

The invention also relates to an outer layer element arranged to beapplied on the outside of a shoe as defined above, matching an innerlayer forming a replacement portion of the shoe, said outer layerelement having an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surfaceof the outer layer having a shape defining the outer shape of theportion of the shoe and the inner surface of the outer layer beingshaped to match the inner layer, said outer layer further comprisesmechanical fastening means for attaching it firmly to the shoe

The invention also relates to an outer layer element arranged to beapplied on the outside of a shoe but which only covers select regions ofthe front upper part of the shoe. In a preferred embodiment the selectregion include the front outer corner of the shoe, that is, the areawhere the toe of the shoe meets the outer side of the shoe.

By enabling the exchange of the outer surface of the shoe in the partsof the shoe where it is particularly subjected to wear and tear, theappearance of the shoe can be improved by replacing the worn part. Atthe same time, when the performance of the shoe has been reduced, thereplacement surface will enable control of the skateboard on the samelevel as when the shoe was new. Preferably materials ensuring highperformance and skateboard deck interaction are selected for the shoe.

The fastening means can be any means suitable for attaching the outerlayer element to the shoe.

For example, the inside of the outer layer element and the outside ofthe inner layer of the shoe may have matching hook and loop fabricfasteners. Such hook and loop fasteners are available for example underthe brand name Velcro®. In one embodiment the fabric fastener is appliedover all of the respective surfaces of the inner and outer layer wholeouter layer and inner layer to maximize the fixation of the outer layerelement to the inner layer. If only applied to one or more portions ofthe inner and outer layers, the fabric fastener should be applied tomatching portions on the respective surfaces and preferably at leastaround the edges of the surfaces to ensure that the edges of the outerlayer are fixed to the inner layer.

Alternatively, an adhesive could be applied, over the whole inner andouter surfaces, or over suitable portions of them.

As yet another alternative, the inner surface of the outer layer elementand the outer surface of the inner layer may be formed in materials thatwill cooperate to hold the outer layer element in place by means offriction.

In addition, or alternatively, other types of fastening means may beapplied, such as buttons, zippers or stud buttons. These may be usedaround the edges, on other parts of the shoe.

In addition there may also be one or more elements such as strapsarranged to fix the outer layer element to an outer surface of the mainportion of the shoe, the straps arranged to be fixed both to the outersurface of the outer layer element and to the outer surface of the mainportion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail in the following, withreference to the appended drawings, in which

FIGS. 1a-1c show a shoe and its parts according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 2a-2c show a shoe and its parts according to a second embodimentof the present invention.

FIGS. 3a-3c show a shoe and its parts according to a third embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a type of fabric fastener that is used in preferredembodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1a shows a shoe according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention, having a sole part 11 and an upper part 13. The sole part andthe upper part, and how they are joined, may be implemented in anymanner known in the art. In the shoe of FIG. 1a the sole part has avertical extension so that the sole part 11 and the upper part 13 arejoined a distance above the ground. The upper part has a main portion 15in which it is designed like a prior art shoe. Typically, as shown inFIG. 1, the main portion 15 comprises the back of the shoe. The frontend of the shoe has a renewal area 16 in which the shoe comprises atleast two layers: an outer layer facing outwards, and inner layer, whichis attached to the main part of the shoe. The inner layer may extend asan inner layer over a portion of the main part of the shoe, or may forman inner layer for the whole shoe. Hence, in the renewal area 16 thereis an outer layer part 17, attached to the inner layer of the shoe whichis removable so that it can be replaced, for example when wear and tearhas rendered it less attractive and/or less functional.

FIG. 1b shows the outer layer part 17 removed from the shoe, accordingto one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the renewal area16 comprises the whole front part of the shoe. As can be seen, the shapeof the outer layer part 17 matches the renewal area as shown in FIG. 1a. The inner surface of the outer layer part 17 comprises fastening meansarranged to cooperate with the outer surface of the inner layer, to holdthe outer layer part 17 in place in the renewal area.

FIG. 1c shows the shoe with the outer layer part 17 removed. The mainpart 15 of the shoe, which is comprised of the back of the shoe, is notaffected according to this embodiment, and is the same as shown in FIG.1a . In the renewal area 16 the inner layer 19 is seen. The inner layer19 in the renewal area 16 has an outer surface comprising fasteningmeans arranged to cooperate with the inner surface of the outer layerpart to hold the outer layer part 17 in place in the renewal area.

The nature of the fastening means will be discussed below.

FIG. 2a shows a shoe according to a second embodiment of the invention.As in FIG. 1a , the shoe has a sole part 21 and an upper part 23. Theupper part 23 has a main portion 25 in which it is designed like a priorart shoe. In this embodiment, the shoe has a renewal area 26 covering aportion of the shoe in which there is normally much wear and tear whenthe shoe is in use. As in FIG. 1a , the shoe in the renewal area 26comprises at least two layers: an outer layer 27 facing outwards, andinner layer 29, which is attached to the main part of the shoe. FIG. 2ashows the shoe with the outer layer 27 part removed. The inner layer 29may extend as an inner layer over a portion of the main part of theshoe, or may form an inner layer for the whole shoe. The outer layerpart 27, attached to the inner layer 29 of the shoe is removable, inthis embodiment it has the form of a patch having the same outline asthe renewal area 26.

FIG. 2b shows the outer layer part 27 removed from the shoe, accordingto the second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, therenewal area 26 comprises a portion of the side of the shoe. As can beseen, the shape of the outer layer part 27 matches the renewal area 26as shown in FIG. 2a . The inner surface of the outer layer part 27comprises fastening means arranged to cooperate with the outer surfaceof the inner layer, to hold the outer layer part 27 in place in therenewal area.

The main part 25 of the shoe, which includes most of the shoe, is notaffected according to this embodiment. In the renewal area the innerlayer 29 is seen. The inner layer 29 in the renewal area 26 has an outersurface comprising fastening means arranged to cooperate with the innersurface of the outer layer part 27 to hold the outer layer part 27 inplace in the renewal area 26.

FIG. 3a shows a shoe according to a third embodiment of the invention.As before, the shoe has a sole part 31 and an upper part 33. The upperpart 33 has a main portion 35 in which it is designed like a prior artshoe. In this embodiment, as in FIG. 1a , the sole part extendsvertically to form an edge around the lower part of the shoe. The shoehas a renewal area 36 covering the front of the shoe and extending overthe edge formed by the sole part. As in the previous embodiments, theshoe in the renewal area 36 comprises at least two layers: an outerlayer 37 facing outwards, and inner layer 39, which is attached to themain part of the shoe. The main part 35 of the shoe, which includes mostof the shoe, is not affected according to this embodiment. In therenewal area the inner layer 39 is seen. The inner layer 39 in therenewal area 36 has an outer surface comprising fastening means arrangedto cooperate with the inner surface of the outer layer part 37 to holdthe outer layer part 37 in place in the renewal area 36. The inner layer39 may extend as an inner layer over a portion of the main part of theshoe, or may form an inner layer for the whole shoe. The outer layerpart 37, attached to the inner layer 39 of the shoe is removable, inthis embodiment it has at least two areas: an upper area 37 a matchingthe upper part of the shoe and a lower area 37 b matching the verticalextension of the sole part 31.

FIG. 3b shows the outer layer part 37 removed from the shoe, accordingto the third embodiment of the invention. As can be seen, the outline ofthe outer layer part 37 matches the renewal area 36 as shown in FIG. 3a. The inner surface of the outer layer part 37 comprises fastening meansarranged to cooperate with the outer surface of the inner layer, to holdthe outer layer part 37 in place in the renewal area.

Preferably, in all embodiments, the outline of the upper layer part 17,27, 37 matches the renewal area exactly. Preferably, also, the thicknessof the upper layer part 17, 27, 37 matches the thickness of an indentformed and built in to the renewal area compared to the main portion, sothat when in place the upper layer part and the main portion will formessentially one continuous outer surface of the shoe.

As can be seen, in all embodiments the renewal area is indented comparedto the main portion 5 of the shoe, so that it can receive an upper layerpart 9 in such a manner that the outer surface of the upper layer partis flush with the outer surface of the main part 5 of the shoe. This isnot necessary; the upper layer part may be thicker or thinner than theindent formed by the replacement area so that it extends a bit outsideof the outer surface of the main part, or ends a bit further in.Strictly speaking the inner layer does not have to be indented comparedto the outer surface of the main part of the shoe, although itpreferably is.

Preferably, the material or materials of the outer surface of the upperlayer part 17, 27, 37 are chosen and arranged so they match the outersurface of the main part 15, 25, 35 to give the shoe an attractiveappearance. This may involve matching the coloring of different parts ofthe shoes, the choice of materials and other aspects contributing to thevisual appearance of the shoe.

FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred type of fastening means that may be usedwith the invention, which is a fabric fastener comprising a first 41fastener layer and a second fastener layer 42 having cooperatingsurfaces 43 and 44, respectively, arranged to engage each other. Thefirst cooperating surface 43 typically has hook fasteners and the otherone 44 has loop fasteners. Preferably the fastener layer 42 having theloop surface 44 is arranged on the outer surface of the inner layer 19,29, 39 and the fastener layer 41 having the hook surface 43 is arrangedon the inner surface of the outer layer 17, 27, 37. Such hook and loopfasteners are available for example under the brand name Velcro®. Thefabric fastener should be applied over at least a part of the outerlayer 17, 27, 29 and the inner layer 19, 29, 39. The best fixation ofthe outer layer element to the inner layer will be achieved if thefastener fabric is applied over all of the respective surfaces of theinner and outer layer. If only applied to one or more portions of theinner and outer layers, the fabric fastener should be applied tomatching portions on the respective surfaces and preferably at leastaround the edges of the surfaces to ensure that the edges of the outerlayer are fixed to the inner layer.

The inner and outer surface of the outer and inner layer, respectively,may also be selected so that they bonded to each other by means offriction. For example, some combinations of a rubber surface and afabric surface have been shown to have a high friction. In such anembodiment, the rubber could be applied across the whole inner or outersurface, or in patches on one of the surfaces or both, to ensurefriction between the rubber patches and the fabric of the surfaces.

To further improve the bonding of the replaceable outer layer to theshoe, other types of fastening means may be used. For example, one ormore buttons or stud buttons may be applied in corresponding positionson the outer layer part and the inner layer, for example, around theedges. It would also be possible to apply a zipper along part of theedge, or around the whole renewal portion, or use an adhesive to bondthe parts together. Further, the replaceable outer layer may be securedto the inner layer by means of staples, or stitches. The other types offastening means mentioned in this paragraph are preferably used inaddition to the fabric fastener or friction bonding. One or more strapsmay be applied, which are connectable to both the outer surface of themain part and the outer surface of the outer layer element of the shoe,to help keep the outer layer element in place. The straps may befastened with fabric fasteners as discussed above, or with buttons orstud buttons, or in any other suitable way.

In addition, the outer layer part 17, 37 may be shaped in such a waythat it includes one or more of the holes arranged for lacing the shoein these embodiments. In that way, the lacing of the shoe may be usedfor additional fixation of the outer layer part to the shoe.

Further, it should be pointed out that the replacement parts, and outerlayer elements according to the invention could be applied to any typeof shoe, including but not limited to sports shoes. Although theexamples discussed in this document all include lacing, the inventioncould easily work with shoes without laces as well.

1. A shoe, comprising a sole part and an upper part, said upper part having a main outer surface, wherein at least a portion of the upper part outside of the main outer surface comprises a renewal portion comprising an inner layer having an outer attachment surface, said outer attachment surface being arranged to cooperate with a detachable outer layer element having a shape matching the renewal portion, in such a way as to retain the outer layer element attached to the renewal portion.
 2. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the outer attachment surface of the inner layer has an indented outer surface compared to the main outer surface.
 3. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the renewal portion comprises at least a part of the front portion of the shoe.
 4. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer extends to form an inner layer of the upper part outside of the renewal portion.
 5. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the renewal portion comprises one surface of a fabric fastener, preferably the loop surface.
 6. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the renewal portion comprises a surface arranged to retain the outer layer portion by means of friction.
 7. An outer layer element for a shoe arranged to match a renewal portion of a shoe according to claim 1, said outer layer element having an inner surface arranged to cooperate with an outer attachment surface of the inner layer of the shoe in such a way that the outer layer element is retained in a position substantially covering the renewal portion.
 8. An outer layer element according to claim 7, having an inner surface comprising a surface of a fabric fastener, arranged to cooperate with a surface of the renewal portion.
 9. An outer layer element according to claim 1, further comprising fastening means for fastening the outer layer element to the main outer surface of the shoe, said fastening means preferably comprising at least one overlap portion overlapping a portion of the outer surface of the shoe.
 10. A shoe assembly comprising a shoe according to claim 1 and an outer layer element having an inner surface arranged to cooperate with an outer attachment surface of the inner layer of the shoe in such a way that the outer layer element is retained in a position substantially covering the renewal portion.
 11. A shoe assembly according to claim 10, wherein the indent has a depth matching the thickness of the outer layer element, so that the shoe with the outer layer element attached has a substantially continuous outer surface.
 12. A shoe assembly according to claim 10, wherein the outer layer element has an outer surface of the same material as the main outer surface.
 13. A shoe assembly according to claim 10, further comprising additional fastening elements, said additional fastening elements being attachable to the outer surfaces of both the main part of the shoe and the outer layer element to help keep the outer layer element in place.
 14. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the shoe comprises a sports shoe.
 15. A shoe assembly according to claim 13, wherein the additional fastening elements comprise straps. 